LANDSEER, THOMAS.: Life and Letters of William Bewick [Artist] edited by Thomas Landseer A.R.A.
London, Hurst and Blackett, 1871.

2 volumes 8vo, with half titles and portrait frontispiece in volume one, adverts at the end of volume 2, bound in original bevel-edged brown decorated cloth, volume one slightly shaken, title page of volume 2 incorrectly printed 'Vol I', else a fine set, FIRST EDITION, INSCRIBED BY THOMAS LANDSEER TO HIS PUPIL JOHN COTTER WEBB, both volumes affectionately inscribed in pencil on the half titles. Webb entered the studio of Landseer at the age of 14 in 1869 and, like Landseer, became a popular engraver and artist, though he is largely forgotten today. The same might be said of the artist William Bewick, subject of this biography in which if Landseer hardly succeeds in raising Bewick's status as an artist, does, at least, provide a valuable account of the literary and artistic circles in which Bewick moved. These included Hazlett, Hayden, Shelley and Keats, for which reason alone this work is still from time to time consulted. Our set was originally sold at auction in 2015 together with a short fragment of Webb's [later] diary. £125.00